ARCS - Achievement Rewards for College Scientists www. ARCS Pittsburgh celebrates milestones: one decade, $1 million! Since its inception in 2003, ARCS Pittsburgh has raised Mark Nordenberg was on hand, more than a million dollars to support US doctoral students as was ARCS Pittsburgh charter in science, engineering and technology at Carnegie member Maureen Cohon, wife Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and The of CMU’s outgoing president State University. Jared Cohon, and of course, ARCS Pittsburgh founder of existence, Jeanne Berdik. ARCS Event planners Bev Elliott, Pittsburgh Millie Ryan and Kathy hosted a Testoni ensured that attendees celebratory enjoyed drinks and tasty hors ARCS CMU scholar Andrew reception d’oeuvres, while President DeYoung, CMU’s Maureen June 6 at the Missy Unkovic spelled out our Cohon and Pitt Chancellor Mark Frick Art and glowing accomplishments. Nordenberg Historical Raising $1,172,500 is a large milestone to celebrate in a Center in small group of women who have worked together for only Our current and former chapter presidents (L to R): Beth Wainwright, Sue Harter, Jeanne Berdik, Point Breeze. ten years. Reception proceeds will fund the Maureen and Carol Stockman, Missy Unkovic. Pitt Chancellor Jerry Cohon ARCS Scholar Award.

Advancing Science Lively ARCS crowd enjoys Penn State visit in America® For April, Sue Breedlove organized ARCS Foundation advances science and a visit to Penn State University, where technology in the United States by providing ARCS members and donors could visit to learn about the Interdisciplinary Graduate U.S. citizens studying to complete degrees in Program in Ecology. After a reception science, engineering and medical research. The Pittsburgh Chapter has the additional with drinks and tasty hors d’oeuvres, focus of increasing the number of doctoral ARCS President Missy Unkovic opened the program, and Dr. David Eissenstat, and research in the Western Pennsylvania department chair, welcomed attendees. region. Donors and scholars (above) gather after Faculty and students then talked about Dr. Peter Hudson’s talk on eco-health. The Pittsburgh Chapter cutting-edge research on some of the Chartered in 2003, the Pittsburgh Chapter most pressing questions facing humanity is one of the newest of 17 nationwide ARCS chapters. In a short time, the Chapter has today: Is it possible to stop the spread already pledged more than a million dollars to of infectious diseases? Can we restore its three partner universities: Carnegie Mellon ecosystems degraded by human use? University, the University of Pittsburgh and How will global climate change affect Penn State University. human life and our environment? Kudos to Penn State and Sue Breedlove for a day well spent.

ARCS-Pittsburgh Newsletter Page 1 ARCS - PITTSBURGH

Pittsburgh Chapter Applause, applause, applause at Board of Directors the 2013 Scholar Showcase event 2012-2013 After a short cocktail reception at the 20th Century Club in Oakland Missy Unkovic, President last April, third-year ARCS scholars Fran Abraham displayed posters of their work, Barbara Andrews Linda Burke and answered questions posed by Doris Calian interested members and their guests. Lourdes Castellanos Keynote speaker Dr. Jeanne Maureen Cohon, Esq. M. VanBriesen, professor in civil Maren Cooke Missy Unkovic socializes with Dr.VanBriesen engineering at Carnegie Mellon and Cecile Springer Ann Fromm University and an ARCS alumna from Kate Freed Northwestern University, then gave a speaker, Dr. VanBriesen described her Ruth Garfunkle fascinating talk about her own work. Julia Gleason Science on natural water systems and the Cristy Gookin and the detection of biological agents in Carol Heppner passion for drinking water. Debbi Linhart ARCS Foundation exists to support Jennifer Martin education, scientists like Jeanne. Perhaps a Pam Meadowcroft she said, young scholar now presenting a Karen Meck have poster will return as keynote speaker Arlene Sokolow always for a future Scholar Showcase. Kudos Carol Stockman driven to Karen Meck and Ruth Garfunkel Jan Wagner Third-year CMU ARCS Scholar her. An for their work on this year’s Scholar Janet Wood Stephen Spagnol excellent Showcase. Lise Woodard ARCS Pittsburgh says fond farewell to CMU’s Communications Jared Cohon as he steps down as president Committee Co-Chairs Jared L. with a three-year $15,000 award for 2012-13 Cohon has academic excellence in the sciences. delivered many Dr. Cohon’s wife, Maureen compelling Chair: Ann Fromm Cohon, served as a charter member lectures to of ARCS Pittsburgh and has been a Co-Chair: Julia Gleason ARCS Pittsburgh Debbie Scully, Susan members. On year existence. Moreland and Carol Heppner July 1, after a Dr. , director of Special thanks to 16-year tenure at the helm as CMU the National Science Foundation, Debbie Meyers and CMU for layout, president, he will step down to return will succeed Dr. Cohon as CMU’s printing and mailing this newsletter. to lecture in the classroom. president. We have greatly appreciated his We look command of facts, his personable forward to demeanor and his vision for the working with Dr. Suresh and We also appreciate our scholars continuing our at CMU. ARCS Pittsburgh currently relationship with supports15 scholars at CMU, each Jerry.

Page 2 ARCS-Pittsburgh Newsletter ARCS - PITTSBURGH Charlotte Beukema wins prestigious “ARCS Light” Award After receiving the 2012-2013 ARCS Light award, divisional vice which recognizes stellar service and outstanding personal president. She leadership to our chapter, Charlotte Beukema said, “I enjoys Ikebana totally, totally believe in the mission. It’s wonderful to support our young science scholars.” and has served Kathy Testoni opened her beautiful home in Chatham’s as president of campus to host the annual meeting this past April 14. the Perennial A charter member of ARCS Pittsburgh, Charlotte served Garden Club. on the program committee for eight years, ultimately Holding becoming its chair, and served on the nominating her beautiful committee in 2011-2012. Charlotte and her husband, Henry, bouquet of lilies, share sponsorship of their second scholar award that alstroemeria and begins this year. peonies like a “Charlotte also helped with special events,” added Carol baby, Charlotte ARCS Light Awardee Charlotte Beukema Heppner, herself a former ARCS Light award winner. “She said she was did a lot for the scholar award dinners when we highlight honored to receive the award. our scholars.” “And I like the perks of being an ARCS member,” she Now active in the Shadyside Presbyterian Church, added. “It’s exciting to go behind the scenes to places like Charlotte graduated from Penn State University with a Google, the Tissue Engineering Center, and the prosthetics bachelor of science degree and worked at Kaufmann’s research center in Bakery Square. I’m still very passionate Department Store for 30 years, ultimately becoming about ARCS.” Katie Harris studies viruses, knits, runs and bakes bread As a Purdue undergraduate, about it,” she said. “One day I said to infection? How do the cells respond if Katie Harris remembers she had a friend, ‘I wish someone would send we take away a certain protein?’” two choices for graduate school: me an email and tell me what to do.’” To do her research, Katie wears the University of Michigan and the When she got home that night, she gloves to retrieve the cells that are University of Pittsburgh. found an email from Dr. John Horn at usually kept in the freezer. The “Both were good programs with Pitt, offering her an ARCS scholarship. freezers are minus 80 degrees good medical schools and I agonized “It’s a silly story,” Katie says now. Celsius; they thaw the cells under “But it didn’t hurt!” biological containment shields. Currently a doctoral student in Molecular Virology through Pitt’s particles from exiting their shields and School of Medicine, Katie studies enteroviruses, a class of virus with When she’s not studying, Katie fecal/oral transmission routes. enjoys spending time with friends, Polio is an enterovirus, like the virus that causes hand-foot-and- Pittsburgh Great Race -- and baking mouth disease. She specializes in the big crusty loaves of whole wheat immune response to these viruses in bread and making pizza dough. She the gut. even knits scarves and socks. “I do experiments,” Katie says. ARCS Pittsburgh members are “We culture human gut cells and glad the email about her scholarship grow them, asking ‘What happens arrived just at the right time to bring Third-Year Pitt Scholar Katie Harris to the immune response during virus Katie here.

ARCS-Pittsburgh Newsletter Page 3 ARCS - PITTSBURGH Farewell to our third-year scholars at CMU, Pitt and PSU We wish them continued success as they complete their studies and look forward to staying in touch with them. ANDREW DeYOUNG STEPHEN SPAGNOL Pittsburgh Chapter Award 2010-13 PPG Industries Award 2010-13 B.S., Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 2010 B.S., Chemical Engineering, Mellon College of Science, Chemistry Department Pennsylvania State University, 2010 Research interest: physical chemistry Carnegie Institute of Technology, Chemical Engineering Department MICHAEL McCANN Research interest: genome-scale metabolic modeling and The Roy and Susie Dorrence Award 2010-13 engineering B.S., Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2010 Carnegie Institute of Technology, Biomedical Engineering JASON TSAY Department Catalyst/Pittsburgh Chapter Award 2010-11, 2013 Research interest: computational neural engineering B.E., Computer Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 2009 MANYA SLEEPER School of Computer Science, Department of Computer The Thomas W. and Carol K. Henderson Family Fund of Science (ISR- software engineering) the Pittsburgh Foundation Award 2010-13 Research interest: software architecture and pervasive B.A., Computer Science, Dartmouth College, 2008 computing School of Computer Science, Department of Computer Science (ISR- computation, organizations, and society) Research interest: usable security and privacy

ANNY CACERES MEGAN JAMIOLKOWSKI Joy-Linhart Award 2010-13 Westinghouse Electric Company Award 2010-13 B.S., Pharmacology and Toxicology, SUNY at Buffalo, 2010 B.S., Biomedical Engineering, The Catholic University of School of Medicine, Interdisciplinary Biomedical Program America, 2010 Research interest: Pathology and treatment of overactive Swanson School of Engineering, bladder; interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome and Department of Bioengineering chronic pain in general Research interest: Cardiovascular system KATHARINE HARRIS biocompatibility with a focus on The Beukema-Carrow-Wainwright Award 2010-13 platelet activation B.S., Microbiology, Purdue University, 2010 School of Medicine, Interdisciplinary Biomedical Program TYLER TARR Research interest: Host pathogen interaction in Pittsburgh Chapter Award 2010-13 microbiology B.S., Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, 2010 School of Medicine, Center for Neuroscience Research interest: Presynaptic nicotine acetychlorine receptors at the neuromuscular junction

Page 4 ARCS-Pittsburgh Newsletter ARCS - PITTSBURGH For Penn State’s Denise Finney, everything’s coming up canola In addition to being a third-year She came to Penn ARCS scholar, Denise Finney is also State in part because a minister’s wife, mother of a little it’s a land grant girl named Helena and owner of a university. “The land dog named “Brownie,” an Australian grant system began Shepherd with no brown on him. in the US in the late Living outside State College near 1800s,” she explains, her husband’s church, she and her “when the government husband juggle school and work with decided that every day care and pre-school for Helena state needed an three days a week. educational institution “My ARCS money has been so to prepare farmers and helpful with day care,” Denise says. to conduct research “But I’ve also used it for research to improve agricultural production.” Denise Finney, PSU 3rd year ARCS scholar, stands with a in Maryland to learn a new technique for soil analysis. It has improved my piece of that research of nitrogen. We need nitrogen to grow research here at Penn State.” is in corn – corn, and the crops called crops. But if we apply too much, we Denise’s research involves the “cover crops” grown before the corn is lose it and cause pollution. Where’s environment, especially food. planted. the balance? We try to use ecological “Food production is essential to “You never want bare soil,” Denise processes, not chemical fertilizers, to human life and combines my interest says. “So we use ‘cover crops’ keep the right amount of nitrogen in in the environment with my desire to the soil for the corn.” help people,” she says. especially providing the right amount As a cover crop planted before corn, Denise has used canola, hairy vetch, red clover, rye and forage radish. “Forage radish is a hundred times larger than popular garden radish,” WHITNEY COYLE Denise says. “We plant it in the fall The Bennett-Coppersmith-Palmer Award 2010-13 to soak up extra nutrients. Our corn B.S., Music, Murray State University, 2009 didn’t take up all the nitrogen, so the B.S., Mathematics, Murray State University, 2009 radish does, and nitrogen isn’t lost to Acoustics the environment where it’s dangerous. Research interest: acoustics Excess nitrogen has contributed to a dead zone in the Chesapeake Bay, so DENISE M. FINNEY reducing nitrogen loss is a high priority The Maureen Emily Ryan Award 2010-13 for farmers in this area.” Ecology, Department of Biology Research interest: ecology with her doctoral studies at Penn State. She hopes to teach and do MEREDITH HANLON research at a smaller liberal arts Pittsburgh Chapter Award 2010-13 college, exposing undergraduates to B.S., Biochemistry, Allegheny College, 2009 science. Plant Biology, Department of Biology “I love teaching,” Denise concludes, Research interest: plant biology “especially the challenges of food production and agriculture.” ARCS-Pittsburgh Newsletter Page 5 ARCS - PITTSBURGH A Letter from our President, Missy Unkovic Dear ARCS Foundation—Pittsburgh Chapter Members, feelings. On the one hand, we have grown fond of them I had the very good fortune this past year to meet three amazing ARCS Scholar Alums living in the western years of graduate school. It’s hard to see them leave. Pennsylvania area. All three are impressive scientists doing On the other hand, we are so excited by the research interesting and important work. they are already doing, and we look forward to the careers Brady Hunsaker received his PhD from Georgia Tech Acoustics to Bioengineering to Computer Science to We learned at our visit to Google that Brady is helping Ecology to Molecular Virology to Neuroscience to Plant to change the way we use computers when we shop Sciences, we can be sure that they will make their mark on online. the world. Jeanne VanBriesen spent her student years in They have already been honored by acceptance into Chicago at Northwestern. She is presently a professor top departments at excellent universities and by their ARCS at CMU and leads their Water QUEST Center, working awards. We are certain that these honors are only the with urban water systems. Jeanne’s speech at our beginning for these 12 wonderful students. Scholar Showcase helped us to understand a little We have just recently learned the names of our new more about water systems. Her work is so important to know them and following their work, because that’s what ARCS is all about. Finally, Diane Henderson received her PhD in We provide support to students who have already Oceanography from the Scripps Institution of achieved much, in order to help them achieve even more Oceanography at the University of California in San Diego. She is now a professor of Mathematics at Penn In return, we get to know an extraordinary group of young State. Diane is using advances in mathematics to people whose future work will make the world a better help ocean scientists further understand global ocean place. currents, predict Tsunamis or rogue waves, and plumb So thank you all for the time, talents and treasure that the effects of coastal engineering. I am particularly you give to ARCS. I hope you get as much enjoyment from impressed that Diane left San Diego’s sunny weather to it as I do. settle in State College. Our third-year students have now also become ARCS Scholar Alums. We watch them leave our ranks with mixed Missy Unkovic Members tour world-class Phipps “green” building Program chair Lourdes Castellanos organized our tour in March of the Phipps Conservatory’s Center for Sustainable Landscapes, an innovative model worldwide of a building that promotes greener living. The Center generates all its own energy, treats and re-uses all water captured on its site, and meets or exceeds the world’s three highest green standards: the Living Building Challenge, the LEED Platinum criteria, and SITES (Sustainable Sites Initiative group!

Page 6 ARCS-Pittsburgh Newsletter ARCS - PITTSBURGH Planners steer future of ARCS ARCS Foundation and In February, Pam Meadowcroft and Kate Freed Pittsburgh Donors 2012-2013 organized a well-attended planning meeting at the 20th Century Club. They asked the group of members three Corporations and Foundations main questions: FULL SCHOLAR AWARDS 1. What attracted you to ARCS and what keeps you The BNY Mellon Charitable Foundation (II) coming back? Fine Foundation Award 2. What would you like ARCS to do differently? Thomas W. and Carol K. Henderson Family Fund of the 3. How can we improve communications? Pittsburgh Foundation (II) Among other answers, the consensus seemed to be that PPG Industries Foundation (II) we wanted to hear more about the students, and we all Westinghouse Electric Foundation (II) appreciated event-reminder and save-the–date emails. individual donors In April, organizers followed up with a smaller meeting at FULL SCHOLAR AWARDS Pam Meadowcroft’s house to Roy and Susie Dorrance (II) Leslie and Hans Fleischner (IV) In a triumph of organization, the John T. Ryan III and Catharine M. Ryan in honor of their daughter, Maureen Emily Ryan meeting lasted exactly one hour, partly because free parking was HALF AWARDS available for only one hour. JJeanne and Dick Berdik (III) (L) Missy Unkovic. (Below): Linda Linda Beerbower Burke and Timothy F. Burke, Jr. Burke, Pam Meadowcroft and Janet Bev and Steve Elliott (III) Wood. Photos by Maren Cooke. Christy Gookin (II) Susan M. and R. Michael Harter Margaret P. Joy Deborah W. Linhart Mary Anne and John Paul Carol and Paul Stockman (III) Lise Woodard and John Reilly, MD

THIRD AWARDS Francine Abraham (II) Mary Lou Bennett (II) Charlotte and Henry Beukema (III) Cynthia Carrow and James Kyper Mimi Barash Coppersmith (II) Ann Fromm Carol and Richard Heppner (II) Erika Kirwin Janice Leckey Great news: more dollars for more scholars! Jennifer and James Martin Barbara R. Palmer (II) ARCS Pittsburgh proudly announces that we are funding Margaret V. Ragni, MD and Frederick L. Porkolab, MD ten new scholars for 2013–16. Fiscally conservative, (II) ARCS Pittsburgh funds new scholars only when we have Millie and Gary Ryan (II) accumulated funds to support them for the full three years. Kathleen M. and Louis Testoni (II) Elizabeth T. Wainwright (III) This year we have: Janet Wood 5 more at Carnegie Mellon University Maureen Young 4 more at the University of Pittsburgh 1 more at Penn State University Watch the Winter Newsletter for more information and ARCS Foundation appreciates the generosity of those photos of our new scholars! who have contributed to support our Scholars!

ARCS-Pittsburgh Newsletter Page 7 ARCS - PITTSBURGH Pittsburgh chapter members applaud Google tour Fifty-three ARCS members turned out for a January 30 old Nabisco factory. Missy Unkovic, ARCS Pittsburgh president, introduced Google host Dr. Brady Hunsaker. A former ARCS awardee at Georgia Tech, Dr. Hunsaker gave a short, yet fascinating lecture about technological complexities of online shopping. ARCS members peppered him with questions, and then Dr. Hunsaker and volunteers led members on a tour. Google’s Cory Williams leads January tour of Pittsburgh’s With similarities to other Google campuses, Pittsburgh Google facilities. Dr. Brady Hansaker converses with ARCS Google boasts: Foundation President Jeanne Berdik and ARCS Pittsburgh’s treadmill computers program chair Lourdes Castellanos. massaging chairs free food live chickens producing fresh eggs, and a hydrophobic area for fresh herbs beehives for fresh honey a climbing net Bridge enthusiastic people talking about their work The perks of being an ARCS Foundation member are great!

Mark Your Calendars: Upcoming Your “Hot Tickets” Can Help Our Events You Won’t Want To Miss! Scholars See the ‘Burgh Thursday, July 11 One goal for our scholars is to help them see what Al Fresco lunch, Peggy Mooney’s house Pittsburgh has to offer and encourage them to live in our wonderful city as they continue their careers. Most students Wednesday, August 7 cannot afford our major league sporting events or cultural Al Fresco lunch, Natalie Hoffman’s house events. Now we have a way to let them take advantage of our own unused event tickets. September 18, 2013 “I went to see the Book of Donor Appreciation Event at the Mormon at the Benedum,” said University of Pittsburgh (location TBD) Matthew Edwards, ARCS second-year scholar at CMU, Thursday a.m., October 3 “thanks to ARCS tickets.” Thuesday a.m., October 15 Scholars jump at the chance for free tickets to any sports Marcellus Shale site visit or cultural event. If you can’t use your tickets, email Kathy More details about each event will be Dee at [email protected]. Or telephone Kathy at 412- 243-5333. Include your telephone number and the event forthcoming by email and post. name and date. THANKS!

Page 8 ARCS-Pittsburgh Newsletter